Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Whitney’

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Whitney’ characterized by its mediumsized blooms with quilled anemone ray-florets and petaloid yellow-green disc florets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Whitney’ is a product of a breeding-program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with a quilled anemone type flower, a 7 week response and a medium plant height. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant. ‘Whitney’ is a seedling from a cross in a breeding program maintained under the control of inventor. The female parent is #95.1896, the male parent is #94.1444, both unpatented, unnamed seedlings not available to inventor to describe. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Rob Noodelijk in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland in April 1997. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Whitney’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in June 1997 in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing mediumsized blooms with quilled anemone ray-florets and petaloid yellow-green disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. The photo-periodic response time in this crop was 48 days after an average of eight long days. After this long day period to flowering growth retardants were applied 6 times in an average dose of 1.5 gram/liter water. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces mediumsized blooms with quilled anemone ray-florets and petaloid yellow-green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Whitney’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 50 and week 40 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation lightning (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Whitney’ is ‘Kodiak’. When ‘Kodiak’ and ‘Whitney’ are being compared the following differences are noticed: The difference of ‘Kodiak’ and ‘Whitney’ are: (1) Flowerform. The flower of ‘Kodiak’ is a spider, without a clear anemone center. (2) Response time. The response time of ‘Whitney’ is shorter.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Whitney’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart, edition 1995.

Botanical description of: Cultivar ‘Whitney’.

Bud:

Size.—Medium; cross-section 1.2 cm, height 1.0 cm.

Outside color.—White 155 A.

Involucral bracts.—2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm.

Involucral bracts among disc-florets.—Not present.

Involucral bracts color.—Green 138 B.

Bloom:

Type.—Quilled anemone.

Height.—Flat, 1.5-2 cm.

Size.—Medium.

Fully expanded.—6.5-7.0 cm.

Number of blooms per branch.—Approx. 4 blooms per branch.

Performance on the plant.—5 weeks.

Seeds.—Produced in small quantities, oval shaped, grey-brown 199A, 1.5 mm in length.

Fragrance.—Typical chrysanthemum.

Color:

Center of the flower (disc-florets).—Immature yellow-green 144 B, yellow-green 154 B along the edge. Mature yellow-green 154 B, a dot of yellow-green 144 B in the center.

Color of upper surface of the ray-florets.—White 155 D.

Color of the lower surface of the ray-florets.—White 155 D.

Tonality from distance.—A pot mum with quilled anemone flowers and a yellow-green center.

Color of the surface of the ray-florets after aging of the plant.—No discoloration.

Ray florets:

Texture.—Upper and under side smooth.

Number.—42-46.

Cross-section.—Tubular.

Longitudinal axis of majority.—Straigth to incurving.

Length of corolla tube.—Long (2.0 cm).

Ray-floret length.—3.5 cm.

Ray-floret width.—0.3 cm (coralla tube).

Ratio length/width.—High.

Shape of tip.—Spatulate.

Disc florets:

Disc diameter.—Anemone center; 3.2 cm.

Distribution of disc florets.—Numerous, clearly visible at all stages of flowering.

Shape.—Petaloid.

Color.—White 155 A, yellow-green 144 A at the tip.

Receptacle shape.—Domed raised.

Reproductive organs:

Stamen (present in disc florets only).—Long, 4 mm.

Number of stamen.—4.

Stamen color.—Yellow-green 144 A.

Pollen.—Appears at a late stage.

Pollen color.—Yellow-orange 12 A.

Styles (present in both ray and disc florets).—Long.

Style color.—Yellow-green 144 A.

Style length.—5 mm.

Stigmas.—Yellow-green.

Stigma width.—1 mm.

Ovaries.—Enclosed in calyx.

Plant:

Form.—A pot mum meant for indoor use.

Growth habit.—Spreading.

Growth rate.—Fast.

Height.—25.0-28.0 cm.

Width.—24.0-26.0 cm.

Stem color.—Green 138 B.

Stem strength.—Strong.

Stem brittleness.—Absent.

Stem anthocyanin coloration.—Absent.

Length of lateral branch.—From top to bottom 12.0-13.0 cm.

Lateral branch color.—Green 138 B.

Lateral branch, attachment.—Strong.

Branching (average number of lateral branches).—Prolific with 5-6 breaks after pinching.

Peduncle length.—3.5-4.0 cm.

Peduncle color.—Green 138 B.

Flowering response(photo-periodic controlled crop, not natural season).—48 Days.

Foliage:

Color mature.—Upper side green 137 A. Under side green 138 B.

Color immature.—Upper side green 137 A. Under side green 138 B.

Size.—Small; length 6.0 cm, width 5.5 cm.

Quantity (number per lateral branch).—7-8.

Shape.—Oval to round and lobed.

Texture upper side.—Glabrous.

Texture under side.—Pubescent.

Venation arrangement.—Palmate.

Shape of the margin.—Serrated.

Shape of base of sinus between lateral lobes.—Round.

Margin of sinus between lateral lobes.—Sometimes diverging, sometimes converging.

Shape of base.—Truncate.

Apex.—Cuspidate.

Differences with the comparison varieties: When grown under the same conditions.

‘WHITNEY’ ‘KODIAC’ Flower form Anemone type with (partly) Spider type with only tubular ray-florets tubular ray-florets Response time 49 days 54 days 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 